anybody have an opinion on weighing yourself?

jerber160
jerber160 Posts: 2,607 Member
edited October 1 in Health and Weight Loss
I currently record my weight once a week and use that as my goal/progress, but I actually get on the scale 5-6 times a day... usually whenever I pass the thing. It can fluctuate between a half pound and a pound and a half. I have no idea why, but I just do it. I've been told this is 'bad.' It makes me think of Ghostbusters... "wait a minute Egon, you said crossing the streams would be 'bad.'
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Replies

  • GJ7072
    GJ7072 Posts: 16 Member
    I weigh in every day, at the same time, on the same scale. People tell me I shouldn't do it every day but I do anyways ;-)
  • jljc_2010
    jljc_2010 Posts: 137 Member
    I too was obsessed with the numbers, but I have finally made it to where I only weigh myself once a week.
    As soon as I use the ladies room, I strip down, first thing in the morning, usually on Saturday's.
    Give it a try....
    And Good luck!!!!
  • juliapurpletoes
    juliapurpletoes Posts: 951 Member
    ssshhhhhhh.....................................you may start a riot here in a minute!

    I weigh every day........not to be too OCD about it but I find the body facsinating because of all the little ups and downs. I like to see how a workout or food affects my weight. it helps me feel a bit more in control and able to fend off a gain.

    You are not bad - you are a scientist!

    Best of Luck!
  • saraii
    saraii Posts: 11 Member
    Ya goal is to weigh in once a week, doesnt happen its more like once a day.
  • singer201
    singer201 Posts: 563 Member
    I weigh every morning and log my weight once a week on my challenge weigh-in day. Seeing my weight daily keeps me accountable, because in my overweight past, when I avoided the scale, I was in denial about my actual weight.
  • tkirkes
    tkirkes Posts: 121
    I dont want to obsess over the numbers as I have before. So I have chosen to weigh once a month, that way I'm trying to go off of how much better I feel rather than what the scale is telling me. : )
  • sophjakesmom
    sophjakesmom Posts: 904 Member
    Wow, this is a loaded question? :smile: I think everyone has an opinion on this. I had a home scale that was widely inaccurate (I would step on it 3 times quickly and get a 10lb swing). So when I started this current leg of my fitness journey, I started to use the gym scale, which is recalibrated regularly and I only step on the scale once a week. I have found it has allowed me to step back from obsessing about the number and focus on lots of healthy benefits from my new lifestyle. (lower cholestrol, better fitting clothes, more energy, etc.) This has really worked for me.
  • wenders123
    wenders123 Posts: 338 Member
    Once a week, same time (first thing in the morning), underwear, and after the loo :blushing:
  • Yesterday morning I weighed myself and in the evening I weighed myself again. I weighed 3 pounds more in the morning than at night. Then this morning I weighed myself again and was another pound down. Nothing abnormal about food going in or out either. Good example of why NOT to weigh yourself a lot.
  • ThePhoenixRose
    ThePhoenixRose Posts: 1,978 Member
    I usually weigh myself every day, right away in the morning. That way, I know it's not affected by the big breakfast I ate, or all the water I've drank throughout the day, etc.
  • Qarol
    Qarol Posts: 6,171 Member
    Lots of people have opinions on this on MFP.

    Mine is weigh in the morning, every day, after going to the rest room, naked. I don't weigh myself throughout the day because that would be like putting rocks in my pocket and getting on the scale. I do not need to know how much the food and drink I consume weigh.

    If you find it discouraging to weigh that much, then maybe cut back. But if it's not discouraging you, then by all means...weigh yourself that much.
  • I currently record my weight once a week and use that as my goal/progress, but I actually get on the scale 5-6 times a day... usually whenever I pass the thing. It can fluctuate between a half pound and a pound and a half. I have no idea why, but I just do it. I've been told this is 'bad.' It makes me think of Ghostbusters... "wait a minute Egon, you said crossing the streams would be 'bad.'

    My scale calls my name all of the time. But I only record my weight when I see a drop. I own it quickly :)
  • raydeb
    raydeb Posts: 33 Member
    I weight myself every day and know that with exrersize my weight will go up due to water for repair I only count the differance on monday but I feel it gives me a better understanding of how weight flutuates throught week.
  • roxyjo1
    roxyjo1 Posts: 29
    I weigh myself everyday in the morning, before eating & w/o clothes.
  • ido10612
    ido10612 Posts: 51
    I dont think its a bad thing. I weigh myself everytime im in the bathroom almost. I think it helps keep me in check bc my weight flexuates as well. It helps me realize that i may need to eat a little healthier for my next meal or run a little longer next time i get on the tredmill.
  • sophjakesmom
    sophjakesmom Posts: 904 Member
    ssshhhhhhh.....................................you may start a riot here in a minute!

    LMAO. My thoughts exactly!:drinker:
  • sonybalony
    sonybalony Posts: 335 Member
    I do it daily, but log weekly... this allows me to see trends that are not immediately obvious weekly. Also, allows me to see if particular food makes me retain water. (I then avoid those foods the day before my official weigh in)

    If weighing yourself daily makes you a little crazy, or you start obsessing about every morsel that goes in your mouth, or getting discouraged /exuberant over the tiny fluctuations, I would give the scale to a friend that you only see weekly.

    Best of Luck!!!

    ~Sonia
  • KrissyChefBaby
    KrissyChefBaby Posts: 68 Member
    I was stepping on the scale every time I passed it too. My attempt to cut that out was me putting the scale in the bathroom on the entry level instead of the one right by my bedroom (in the basement). That didn't work either because i'm on the entry level too often so now its in the bedroom on the top floor lol. That worked :) Try putting it where you don't have to see it constantly lol.
  • Rae6503
    Rae6503 Posts: 6,294 Member
    I think as long as you don't freak out about it and over analyze it, weigh yourself as often as you want. If you DO freak out about every half pound loss or gain, once a week (or NEVER) is better.
  • jenny138
    jenny138 Posts: 46
    I have been having the same problem. I have made a decision that I am putting the scale away for a month. Its going to be like withdrawl lol. I have been doing great with my eating and exercising but cant seem to lose any weight. I am going to try to get over the 'number' and go with how I feel. Now matter if I put the scale away or not I will still be eating the same and exercising so at least this way I wont get all upset.
  • jmetzger10
    jmetzger10 Posts: 1 Member
    I also force myself to only weigh once a week. Try to keep to the same time and day of the week
  • iAMaPhoenix
    iAMaPhoenix Posts: 1,038 Member
    I only weigh myself on days that ends in ...day. I find that works for me.
  • chelekaz
    chelekaz Posts: 847 Member
    You are the only one who can determine if it is healthy for you to weight yourself that much. I weigh myself every morning after my morning bathroom rituals though I only update once / week. That said... there are days like today I weighed.... went to physical therapy ... then headed home and jumped on again....

    as long as you don't OBSESS about the numbers it's okay.... to me the numbers are just that ... but I get a charge every time I see them go down... even by just 0.1 pounds!
  • Heather75
    Heather75 Posts: 3,386 Member
    As long as you don't find it discouraging, you can weigh yourself as often as you want. I mean, who is going to know unless you tell people? You could even get special shoes made to constantly record your weight. That would be cool.

    The thing is, you already know that it isn't accurate and you only record your weight weekly, so why bother?

    Anyway, do what you want. It doesn't affect anything.
  • SabrinaJL
    SabrinaJL Posts: 1,579 Member
    I'm not one of those people that can check every day. My weight can fluctuate by 5 lbs in a day and I find that very discouraging. I weigh myself only on Friday mornings. And honestly, I don't even like to weigh myself once a week. I dread Friday mornings.
  • Lunachic77
    Lunachic77 Posts: 434 Member
    I currently record my weight once a week and use that as my goal/progress, but I actually get on the scale 5-6 times a day... usually whenever I pass the thing. It can fluctuate between a half pound and a pound and a half. I have no idea why, but I just do it. I've been told this is 'bad.' It makes me think of Ghostbusters... "wait a minute Egon, you said crossing the streams would be 'bad.'

    Love the Ghostbusters reference :tongue:

    Read this article...it makes a lot of sense about weight fluctuations and the scale.

    http://www.healthdiscovery.net/articles/scale_lies.htm

    :drinker:
  • MinnesotaManimal
    MinnesotaManimal Posts: 642 Member
    I do also weigh myself several times a day... I find it facinating to see my weight go up 1.5 lbs after drinking several large glasses of water, then an hour later after I pee to see it go down 1.5 lbs. I record my morning neckid weigh in every wednesday, but I feel seeing it everyday helps me stay in control to see my number every day. My biggest fear is that one day Ill step on the scale and it will suddenly be over 200 lbs again. I am so concerned about it that I find myself holding my breath waiting for it to register.

    wow.... I sound like a freak....
  • rydn4h2o
    rydn4h2o Posts: 255
    I weigh myself daily but only log once a week. I've found in the past when I stop hopping on the scale daily, my weight will creep back on, so this kinda helps keep things in check. It's something that works for me, but not everyone. Good luck!
  • lynn1982
    lynn1982 Posts: 1,439 Member
    I record my weight once a week, but I step on my scale every morning. I just like seeing the lower numbers!
  • Weighing myself everyday helps me stay on track and I find it interesting. I also don't freak out about water weight gains, and like some people here I had a lot of fun weighing myself multiples time each day when I first got my scale. I like seeing how my body works and how water weight can fluctuate throughout the day. I only log new lows here on MFP, but I also keep a graph on my computer and I find it helpful to be able to see that the overall trend is down. Before I did this I would sometimes feel like I was plateauing when I really wasn't.

    YMMV, obviously there are people for whom this strategy does not work so well.
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